Is Frank Selvy #51 worth grading?
Basketball · Basketball Cards 1957 Topps · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Frank Selvy #51 sells for $6,316 against $29.99 raw: a $6,286 spread, 211× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($2,525) clears the raw price after an economy-tier ~$25 fee, so a near-miss still comes out ahead. Centering is the usual reason a clean copy misses the 10 — measure it before you submit.
- Raw (NM)
- $29.99
- PSA 10
- $6,316
- PSA 9
- $2,525
- Gem premium
- 211×
- As of
- Sep 4, 2026
Break-even by outcome and fee
| If it comes back… | Sells for | Economy / bulk (~$25.00) | Standard (~$50.00) | Express (~$150) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gem — PSA 10 | $6,316 | +$6,261 | +$6,236 | +$6,136 |
| PSA 9 | $2,525 | +$2,470 | +$2,445 | +$2,345 |
| PSA 8 | $2,295 | +$2,240 | +$2,215 | +$2,115 |
Net = sale price − $29.99 raw value − fee. Fee tiers are illustrative; plug your grader's current price into the calculator below.
Expected value — how often does it need to gem?
| Chance it gems | Expected sale | Expected net (standard fee) |
|---|---|---|
| 25% | $3,473 | +$3,393 |
| 50% | $4,421 | +$4,341 |
| 75% | $5,368 | +$5,288 |
Even a miss (a 9) beats selling raw after the standard fee — the gem rate only decides how much you win by.
Which grader pays the most — and what a 10 takes
All centering standards →| Grader | 10 sells for | vs best | Front centering for a 10 | Back |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BGS 10 | $8,211 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $6,316 | −$1,895 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $3,790 | −$4,421 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $3,790 | −$4,421 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
Tolerances are each company's published centering standard for its top grade; surface, corners and edges must also be clean. Centering is the one you can measure yourself before you pay.
Full grade ladder
Raw conditions & history →Swipe the table for the other grading companies →
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other 1957 Topps cards worth checking
Full set checklist →
Grading Frank Selvy #51 — FAQ
Is Frank Selvy #51 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Frank Selvy #51 sells for $6,316 against $29.99 raw: a $6,286 spread, 211× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($2,525) clears the raw price after an economy-tier ~$25 fee, so a near-miss still comes out ahead. Centering is the usual reason a clean copy misses the 10 — measure it before you submit.
How much is a PSA 10 Frank Selvy #51 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Frank Selvy #51 (Basketball Cards 1957 Topps) sells for about $6,316 versus $29.99 for a raw near-mint copy — a 211× premium as of Sep 4, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Frank Selvy #51?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $8,211, ahead of PSA 10 at $6,316. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Frank Selvy #51 need for a BGS 10?
BGS publishes 55/45 front and 70/30 back centering as the tolerance for a 10 (Gem Mint). Off-center copies are capped below the top grade regardless of surface — measure yours before paying the fee.
Best on iPhone & Android
Check your basketball card in the Midpoint app
Scan with your camera to measure centering to the millimeter, get an AI grade with corner and edge close-ups, see what your copy is worth, and track it in your portfolio. Free to start.
